Giants to re-sign linebacker Jasper Brinkley to one-year dea

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Jasper Brinkley gives the Giants some depth at linebacker.

The Giants added some insurance at middle linebacker on Saturday night as they closed in on an agreement to re-sign Jasper Brinkley to a one-year deal, according to two NFL sources.

Brinkley made nine starts for the Giants last season in place of injured middle linebacker Jon Beason, after the Giants signed him less than one week before their season opener. The journeyman, who had been with the Dallas Cowboys in training camp, played reasonably well, recording 49 tackles, one sack and four forced fumbles.

The Giants had always hoped to bring the 30-year-old Brinkley back for depth, but his return became even more important when they signed the oft-injured Keenan Robinson to fill Beason’s old spot last week. Brinkley missed the 2011 season with a hip injury, but otherwise has missed only two games in his seven NFL seasons.

Brinkley is the sixth player the Giants have signed since the free-agent market opened, joining defensive end Jason Pierre-Paul, defensive end Olivier Vernon, cornerback Janoris Jenkins, defensive tackle Damon Harrison, and Robinson. The Giants had the NFL’s worst defense last season, so not surprisingly all their offseason action so far has come on the defensive side of the ball.

The Giants are believed to still have approximately $ 24 million in spending room under the NFL’s salary cap and have been actively looking for help on the offensive line. They are also hopeful of finding a receiver, a safety, maybe a blocking tight end, and perhaps some more help along the defensive line.

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